Hither Pomerania

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Hither Pomerania (German: Vorpommern; Polish: Pomorze Przednie or Przedpomorze), sometimes also called Upper Pomerania, is a region of historical Pomerania in northeastern Germany west of the Polish border, including the island of Rügen. It forms part of the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Until 1945, Hither Pomerania referred to the area of Pomerania west of the Oder River including the left-bank cities of Szczecin (German: Stettin) and Świnoujście (German: Swinemünde).

1 History
2 Geography
3 See also
4 References

[edit] History

The historic Prussian Province of Pomerania (outlined in yellow) within the current borders of Germany and Poland. Hither Pomerania consists of the pink German section. The Szczecin area northward was included in the region prior to 1945.

During 3rd century and some time before it, the area was inhabited by the East Germanic Rugians. ^[1]

From the early Middle Ages onwards to around the late 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century when Germanization and Ostsiedlung started, Hither Pomerania was populated by the Slavic Obodrits people, who were related to the Pomeranians. In the 12th century it was conquered first by Danes and then by Pomeranians. From that time the region shared a common history with Pomerania, except 200 years from the 17th century to the 19th century when it was called Swedish Pomerania.

At the end of World War II in 1945, the majority of Hither Pomerania became part of the newly constituted Land (state) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, shortened to Mecklenburg by the Soviets in 1947[1], which was abolished by East Germany in 1952; its territory was roughly coterminous with Bezirk Rostock and Bezirk Neubrandenburg, which replaced it. A small area of Hither Pomerania, including Szczecin and Świnoujście, was transferred with Farther Pomerania to Poland. The postwar Land was reconstituted, with minor border adjustments, as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, upon German reunification in 1990.